To find networking opportunities:

• Read the local business journal or the business section of the newspaper. Look for articles or announcements about meetings and other events.
• Attend state or regional CPA society meetings where CPAs in industry are in attendance.
• Join chambers of commerce and trade associations.
• Use The National Trade and Professional Association Directory.
• Keep in contact with alumni from your college or university.

To exploit networking opportunities:

• Don’t be a wallflower.
• Be sure to follow up. Meeting someone without following up will generally be unproductive. Send an e-mail saying you enjoyed meeting the person and hope you have other opportunities to meet. Or send a thank you note, or call to invite the person to lunch or to some event.
• Look at networking as a long-term strategy, not as something that will provide quick results.
• Focus on the quality of your contacts, not on the quantity.
• Find out what you can do for your contacts, not just what they can do for you. Be a matchmaker.
• When you don’t get a response to your initiatives for a few months, stop trying, at least temporarily, to nurture that relationship. If and when you find some relevant possible nexus, revisit the contact at that time.

What you should not do:

• Don’t be a nuisance to people.
• Don’t wait until you need something to contact someone.
• Don’t refer the person until you have his or her permission.

From INSIGHT — The Magazine of the Illinois CPA Society. For the complete article, click on the following link: http://www.insight-mag.com/insight/06/01-02/bonus-1-SocialClubbing.htm.